ESH4000 – Planetary health and sustainability
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course aims at providing the students with knowledge on how human overexploitation of natural resources has become the greatest threat to health and well-being of our time. Challenges that will be used as examples will include but are not limited to; the effect of climate change upon human health; the impact of capitalism upon ecosystems and in turn, emerging infectious diseases and their spread; the intersection between socio-economic disparities, and finally, the challenge posed by food security, as well as sustainable nutrition upon human health in the Anthropocene. The complexity of these challenges demand a holistic and systems theoretic approach to explore and understand their interconnectedness. Fostering empathy for the planet will be a central element, and how the actions of the present generation must protect the health of future generations.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
A student who has completed this module of the Honours certificate will be able to:
- Explain why our civilization continues to overexploit the planets natural resources and why this practice is unsustainable.
- Account for how sustainable practices are prerequisite to ensure healthy lives for all humans, animals, and the environment we all share.
- Explain the evolvement of reductionism in the modern scientific method.
- account for the following anthropogenic changes and health impacts:
- climate change
- biodiversity shifts
- pollution
- land-use change
- resource depletion (food and water)
- changes in biogeochemical flows (nitrogen and phosphate)
- Account for non-linear causal relationships, leverage points, emerging characteristics, self-organization, and feedback loops.
Skills
A student who has completed this module of the Honours certificate will be able to:
- Apply systems thinking when addressing complex/wicked problems.
- Use systems mapping to discover the dynamics and interconnectedness of systems at play.
- Collaboratively design and implement transformative solutions to Planetary Health challenges using systems thinking.
- Appraise how anthropogenic changes to natural systems, including their proximal and distal causes, influence health outcomes.
General competence
A student who has completed this module of the Honours certificate will be able to:
- Communicate the interconnectedness between humans and nature and the impact that this has on human and non-human health
- Work systematically to build a movement that supports systems change and the Great Transition to a just and sustainable future.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is part of the Honors certificate
This course is only available for students admitted to this certificate.
Teaching
Lectures and seminars with student-led group work will mainly be held between 16:00 and 18:00 in the afternoon.
Student-led group work and supervision will be initiated, with the objective of a oral group exam.
Compulsory activities:
- Group work and 80 % attendance in the seminars is required in order to be eligible to take the exam. Attendance will be registered.
Examination
Oral group presentation
The oral presentation is based on group work.
Grading
The Board at the University of Oslo has decided to introduce detailed guidelines for all examinations, which take place at the University. The description of the grading should be clear and transparent. This is done to ensure alignment between learning outcomes, assignments, and grading. The Faculty of Medicine has developed a web page with information regarding exams and the grading procedures (norwegian version).
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.